There’s something about the arrival of fall that stirs up a sense of excitement and adventure. We lucky residents of Virginia experience the best of what the season has to offer: beautiful changing leaves, delicious produce, family-friendly festivities, and more. So if you’re looking to make the most of the upcoming season, look no further than these 10 picture perfect fall day trips in Virginia:
- Take a trip to a pumpkin patch.
Westmoreland Berry Farm/Facebook Few things are more classically fall than picking pumpkins from a good ole fashioned pumpkin patch. Virginia has plenty to choose from, and it happens to make a great trip for the entire family. To learn more about some of the best pumpkin pickin’ in Virginia, click here.
- Visit an apple orchard and pick your own.
Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchard/Facebook Apples, like pumpkins, are another seasonal favorite of fall. Whether you enjoy the gorgeous views of the Shenandoah Valley, the taste of sweet homegrown apples, or the refreshing ciders, you won’t be disappointed by your excursion to any one of Virginia’s fabulous apple orchards. To learn more about the site above, as well as other local spots, click here.
- Take the dreamiest fall foliage road trip through Virginia.
Virginia State Parks / flickr There’s nothing quite as enchanting as a fall foliage road trip. Virginia boasts some truly breathtaking foliage and there’s nothing like a smooth drive to enjoy it all. This particular road trip will take you through several gorgeous state parks and even into Shenandoah National Park. To see the map and itinerary, click here.
- Visit an authentic horse ranch.
Fort Valley Ranch/Facebook You don’t have to be an avid horseback rider to appreciate the stunning scenery of Fort Valley Ranch. This hidden gem is tucked away in the Massanutten Mountains and offers visitors the chance to trail ride through the forest. For more information on this spectacular outing, click here.
- Get lost in a corn maze.
Liberty Mills Farm/Facebook Corn mazes are an underrated attraction with the potential to entertain the entire family. Virginia has several of them scattered throughout the state, each with its own flair and oftentimes unique theme. Some of these sites also offer hay rides along with other festivities. For more information, click here.
- Order a slice of fried apple pie from Woodruff’s.
Woodruff’s Store: Café & Pie Shop/Facebook There’s a bakery in Monroe that serves what very well may be the best pie in Virginia. Need further proof? Order a slice of the fried apple pie – a taste of perfection tailor-made for this season. Plus, this unassuming corner store has a fascinating history. To learn more, click here.
- Spend some time on the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Curt Fleenor / flickr The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34-mile trail in southwestern Virginia that positively radiates with fall colors once the leaves change. Whether you’re up for a scenic bike ride or a stroll, there are few places more beautiful to enjoy that crisp fall air. To learn more about the trail as well as other scenic hiking spots in Virginia, click here.
- Visit one of Virginia’s beautiful cider mills.
J E./Yelp Cider mills are charming, fascinating, and what they produce is downright delicious. It’s here you can learn about the old fashioned process of making apple cider and taste some of the sweetest stuff around. Adults can also enjoy select hard ciders from various cideries around the state. For ideas, click here.
- Take a scenic drive down a gorgeous country road.
Stephen Little/flickr Beautiful in any seasons, the backroads of Virginia are particularly mesmerizing during the fall. Driving under a canopy of breathtaking fall foliage, you’ll feel all your troubles melt away. To get you started with some ideas, be sure to read more here.
- Hop aboard a fall foliage train ride.
John Mueller/flickr Last but not least, we suggest an absolutely stunning train ride during peak leaf season. (To find out exactly when that is, click here.) The Cardinal winds its way through Culpeper, Charlottesville, Staunton and Clifton Forge, each town offering a unique stopping point for exploring. To learn more about this ride, click here.
What would you add to this list of picture-perfect day trips to take this fall? Be sure to share your ideas with us!
Westmoreland Berry Farm/Facebook
Few things are more classically fall than picking pumpkins from a good ole fashioned pumpkin patch. Virginia has plenty to choose from, and it happens to make a great trip for the entire family. To learn more about some of the best pumpkin pickin’ in Virginia, click here.
Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchard/Facebook
Apples, like pumpkins, are another seasonal favorite of fall. Whether you enjoy the gorgeous views of the Shenandoah Valley, the taste of sweet homegrown apples, or the refreshing ciders, you won’t be disappointed by your excursion to any one of Virginia’s fabulous apple orchards. To learn more about the site above, as well as other local spots, click here.
Virginia State Parks / flickr
There’s nothing quite as enchanting as a fall foliage road trip. Virginia boasts some truly breathtaking foliage and there’s nothing like a smooth drive to enjoy it all. This particular road trip will take you through several gorgeous state parks and even into Shenandoah National Park. To see the map and itinerary, click here.
Fort Valley Ranch/Facebook
You don’t have to be an avid horseback rider to appreciate the stunning scenery of Fort Valley Ranch. This hidden gem is tucked away in the Massanutten Mountains and offers visitors the chance to trail ride through the forest. For more information on this spectacular outing, click here.
Liberty Mills Farm/Facebook
Corn mazes are an underrated attraction with the potential to entertain the entire family. Virginia has several of them scattered throughout the state, each with its own flair and oftentimes unique theme. Some of these sites also offer hay rides along with other festivities. For more information, click here.
Woodruff’s Store: Café & Pie Shop/Facebook
There’s a bakery in Monroe that serves what very well may be the best pie in Virginia. Need further proof? Order a slice of the fried apple pie – a taste of perfection tailor-made for this season. Plus, this unassuming corner store has a fascinating history. To learn more, click here.
Curt Fleenor / flickr
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 34-mile trail in southwestern Virginia that positively radiates with fall colors once the leaves change. Whether you’re up for a scenic bike ride or a stroll, there are few places more beautiful to enjoy that crisp fall air. To learn more about the trail as well as other scenic hiking spots in Virginia, click here.
J E./Yelp
Cider mills are charming, fascinating, and what they produce is downright delicious. It’s here you can learn about the old fashioned process of making apple cider and taste some of the sweetest stuff around. Adults can also enjoy select hard ciders from various cideries around the state. For ideas, click here.
Stephen Little/flickr
Beautiful in any seasons, the backroads of Virginia are particularly mesmerizing during the fall. Driving under a canopy of breathtaking fall foliage, you’ll feel all your troubles melt away. To get you started with some ideas, be sure to read more here.
John Mueller/flickr
Last but not least, we suggest an absolutely stunning train ride during peak leaf season. (To find out exactly when that is, click here.) The Cardinal winds its way through Culpeper, Charlottesville, Staunton and Clifton Forge, each town offering a unique stopping point for exploring. To learn more about this ride, click here.
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